Vehicle-wheel.



Fga.

Wifiusaes R. E. COLE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1911.

Patented July 22, 1913.

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ROBERT EDGAR COLE, OF EIGHLAND CREEK, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T WILLIAM DOUGLAS, 01 TORONTO, CANADA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Ltltiddtllti Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 27, 1911.

Patented July 22, 1913.

Serial No. 623,725.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT EDGAR Gone, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, resident of Highland Greek, county of York, Province ofOntario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle-ll heels; and 1 do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels, as described inthe following SPOClfiOtlhlUl] and illustrated in the accomymnyingdrawings that form part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the novel construction andarrangement of parts whereby the wheel hub is resiliently supportedcentrally within the wheel.

The objects of the invention are, to overcome the ditliculties, expenseand dangers incident to the use of pneumatic tires, and. to devise asimple form of resilient wheel which will. eliminate the transmission ofvi bration and the strains of travel to the frame of the vehicle.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wheelconstructed in accordance with this invention, shown partly broken awayand in part section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of thecon tral portion of the wheel. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detailportion of the wheel rim and means for transmitting power thereto.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring; to the drawings, 1 is the wheel axle formed with a shoulder 2and having a threaded outer end 3.

4 is a ring abutting the shoulder 2 and having an annular groove 5 inits periphery.

6 is a cone bearing encirclingthe axle 1 and abutting the ring 4.

7 is the wheel hub loosely encircling the end 3 of the axle and having;the cupped ends 8 forming ball races.

9 is a cone adjustably supported on the threaded end 30f the axle and 10is a lock nut threaded on said axle and adapted to lock the cone 9.

11 are ball bearings arranged between the cones 6 and 9 and the ballraces in the cupped ends 8.

12 are annular flanges arranged in pairs equidistant from the center ofthe hub 7 and formed integral therewith and extending outwardlytherefrom and 13 are annular flanges arranged to the outside of theouter flanges 12 and preferably formine; part with said hub. i

1.41 is an annular ring of considerably larger diameter than the outerperiphery of the flanges 12 and having the lateral flange portions 15extendingover the said flanges 12, said flanges 15 having a plurality ofslots 16 arranged in a circumferential row and equidistant from thecenter and radially opposite the center line between each pair offlanges 12. i

17 are bolts extending through suitable holes in the flanges 12 andspaced equidis tant.

18 are bolts having eye shaped heads 19 encircling the bolts 18, saidbolts 18 extending]; radially outward through the slots 16 in theflanges 15 and being threaded on their outer ends and provided withsuitable nuts.

20 are spiral springs encircling the bolts 18 b- -rtween the flanges 12and 15 and 21 are spiral compression springs encircling}; the ends ofthe said bolts extending beyond the flanges 15, suitable washers being;arranged at each end of the said springs. The springs 20 and 21 beinp;all of a uniform cross section and length through the eye bolts 1.8support the hub 7 centrally within the a11- nular ring 14-.

22 are the wheel spokes secured in the sockets 23 formed in the ring 14:said spokes extending radially outward from said rinp; and beingsecuredto the wheel rim 241-. i

25 are annular shaped plates encircling the outer ends of the hub 7 andabutting the flanges 13 and rigidly held thereto the cross bolts 26extending through said plates and flanges and across the hub, said boltsbeing arranged midway between the eye bolts 18 and about midway betweenthe outer periphery of the flanges 12 and the inner surface of the ringv14-. The bolts 26 thus perform a double function in securing the plates25 rigidly in place and in forming stops to limit the movement of theannular ring; in. springing in and out upon the spiral springs 21.

27 are lugs projecting laterally from the side walls of the ring 14 andextending into close proximity with the inner face of the plates 25 andhaving; the recesses 28 in the outer ends thereof. 7

29 are steel balls arranged in the recesses 28 and engaging the innerfaces of the plates 25 and forming a rolling contact with the supportinglugs 27.

30 are nuts threaded on the outer ends of the cupped ends 8 of the hub 7and clamping the inner edges of the plates 25 securely.

31 are annular shields rigidly secured to the ring l l by the bolts 32extending through the spokes, said shields extending outwardly andoverlapping the outer surfaces of the plates 25 and having the felt dustrings 33 secured to the inner faces and abutting said plates 25.

3 1 is a circular dished plate secured to the shield 31 on the outerside of the wheel completely closing in the hub and wheel centermechanism.

35 is a dust washer secured in the annular groove 5 in the ring 4; andengaging the inner wall of the cupped end of the hub.

36 are arms rigidly secured to the plate 25 on the inner side of thewheel and extending radially outward therefrom and having the outer ends37 formed with transverse slots 37 therethrough.

38 are arc-shaped rods rigidly secured at the ends to the rim of thewheel and extend ing through the slots 37 in the outer ends of the arms36.

39 are spiral compression springs encircling the rods 38 to each side ofthe arms 36.

40 are brackets secured to the side of the rim and having the outwardlyprojecting lugs 41 at each end adapted to engage the outer ends of thearms 36 to limit the movement of said arms.

In the use of this wheel, the hub and axle journaled therein aresuspended centrally within the wheel, the weight being carried by thesprings 20 and 21. The vibration of travel caused by the inequalities inthe road are absorbed by the said springs 20 and 21 so that the hub andaxle and other portions of the running gear of the vehicle are free ofvibration. Any sudden shocks caused by striking obstructions in the roadsurface are materially absorbed by the said spiral springs so that theeflect on the running gear will be very slight. The side strains causedby the swinging and swaying of the vehicle and inequalities in the roadis taken up by the lateral lugs 27, the balls 29 rolling within therecesses 28 and forming a rolling contact between the said lugs and theplates 25 which plates are rigid with the hub.

The dust shields 31 effectually prevent the dust and dirt from gettinginto the inner portion of the wheel center and being arranged asdescribed move freely with the outer portion of the wheel but retaincontact with the plates 25 at all times.

In driven wheels to which power is applied it is desirable to provide ameans for conveying the torque direct to the outer portion of the wheelas the eye bolt construction does not allow of the proper transmis sionof power. In order to accomplish a proper transmission of power from thecenter of the wheel to the rim I have arranged the arms 36 which arerigidly secured to the plates 25 and connected to the wheel rim by therods 38 and the said arms being slotted longitudinally are free to movewith the wheel center and the transmission is effected through thecompression springs 39 encircling the said rods. The springs 39 may bemade any desired strength according to the weight and power of thevehicle and as the center portion or plates 25 are driven the movementis transmitted through the arm 36 and springs 39 to the wheel rim. Thebrackets 10 form positive stops so that in the event of extraordinarystress being placed upon the gear the springs 39 will act until the armengages the said stops and a direct and positive drive thus etl'ected.lVhat I claim as my invention is 1. A vehicle wheel comprising incombination with an outer rim and an inner rim supported upon spokesrigid with said outer rim and having a pair of lateral flanges extendingto each side, said lateral flanges having a plurality of radiallyarranged slots spaced equidistant therearound, a hub having a pluralityof annular flanges arran ed in pairs in alinement with said radialslots, bolts pivotally secured between said paired flanges and extendingradially outward through said slots, spiral springs encircling saidbolts to the inner and outer sides of said flanges and forming springsupports for the hub, flat annular plate members rigidly secured to thehub to the outside of said bolts and extending beyond the lateralflanges of the inner rim, guide lugs forming part with the inner rimextending laterally therefrom and engaging said annular plates andadapted to restrict the relative movement laterally of said hub andrims, and tie bolt members spaced around said annular plates and adaptedto support said plates the one from the other and to form stops to limitthe up and down movement of the hub relative to the wheel.

2. In a vehicle wheel, a rim, spokes extending radially inward from saidrim, an annular member secured to the inner ends of said spokes andhaving lateral flanges, a hub, bolts pivotally secured to said hub andextending radially outward through said lateral flanges, spiralcompression springs encircling said bolts and supporting the hubcentrally within said annular member, annular plates rigidly secured tosaid hub, means projecting laterally from said annular member andengaging the inner faces of said annular plates to hold the rim incentral vertical alinement with the hub,

arms rigidly secured to said plates and eX- Signed at the city ofToronto, county of tending radially outward therefrom and York, Ontario,Canada, (his 3rd day of having slotted outer ends, are shaped rods April1911.

supported from said rim and extending ROBERT EDGAR COLE. through saidslotted arms, and compression Witnesses:

springs encircling said rods and engaging H. DRNNISON,

said arms. E. HERON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

